Stephen Campanelli first started camera work while at Marianopolis College, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He graduated from Marianopolis in 1978. Campanelli graduated from film studies from Concordia University, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1983. During his time there, he won first place in a student film competition that took place in Concordia's Hall Amphitheatre, for From A Whisper To A Scream. From A Whisper To A Scream later screened at the 1984 Montreal World Film Festival, receiving accolades. His first film job was on Meatballs III, which was filmed in the Montreal suburb of Hudson, Quebec.